Conservation Psychology

York Graduate Center, Room 107

Conservation psychology is an interdisciplinary field that explores the psychological basis of human’s care for nature and motivation toward conservation and sustainability.

This course provides a background on the development of conservation psychology and survey of topics including psychological benefits of contact with nature, nature and lifespan development, environmental identity and behavior, social justice, influencing conservation action, hope and resilience, and strategic messaging and communications.

The instructor will provide examples from the U.S. and abroad. Conservation roles for mental health counselors, environmental educators and sustainability professionals will be explored. Guest speakers include Amy Dvorak, Lewis & Clark’s Sustainability Manager.

About the Instructor

Thomas Doherty has worked with the founders of Conservation Psychology and provided trainings in Conservation Psychology for organizations such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the New Zealand Department of Conservation. He has also consulted about conservation with organizations such as the Port of Portland and the Friends of the Earth. Thomas is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA); past president of the Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology; and served on the APA Task Force on Global Climate Change. Thomas is a licensed psychologist who created and directs the Ecopsychology Certificate Program at the Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling.

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